Which ethical principle is concerned with the intention of doing no harm while practicing?

The ethical principle that focuses on the intention of doing no harm while practicing is nonmaleficence. This principle emphasizes the responsibility of healthcare providers to avoid causing harm to patients. It underlines the importance of considering the potential negative consequences of interventions and ensuring that actions taken in patient care prioritize safety and the well-being of patients.

Nonmaleficence guides clinicians to critically evaluate the risks associated with treatments or procedures and to refrain from actions that could lead to patient injury or suffering. It is essential for maintaining trust in the healthcare provider-patient relationship, as patients rely on providers to act with their best interests at heart, fundamentally supporting the overall ethical practice of medicine.

In contrast, the other ethical principles mentioned, such as justice, beneficence, and fidelity, focus on different aspects of ethical practice. Justice deals with fairness and equality in the distribution of healthcare resources, beneficence refers to the obligation to act in the best interest of the patient and promote good, while fidelity emphasizes the duty to maintain trust and uphold commitments made to patients. Each of these principles plays a vital role in ethical decision-making, but nonmaleficence is specifically concerned with the avoidance of harm.